Tinplate feeding mechanism



Feb 21, 1933 s. E. DlEscHER TINPLATE FEEDING MECHANISM Filed April 29, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 WITNESSES Feb. 2l, 1933. s E, DlEscl-{ER 1,898,005

TINPLATVE FEEDING MECHANISM FiledApril 29, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 #Maw vmazsszs www Feb. 21, 1933. s E DlESCHE-R 1,893,005

TINPLATE FEEDING MECHANISM INVENTOR WITNESSES Patented Feb. 21, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SAMUEL E. DIESCHER, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO S. DIFSCHER & SONS, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANlA, A PARTNERSHIP CONSISTING' OF SAMUEL E. DIESCHER AN D AUGUST P. DIESCHER TINPLATE FEEDIN G MEOEANISM Application led April 29,

My invention relates generally to apparatus for manipulating plates, and particularly to mechanism for feeding plates of sheet metal to a tinning machine.

In the process of applying a coating of tin to plates of metal, as sheet steel for instance, the plates are carried downward into a path of molten tin by means of a suitable conveyor, for example, one consisting of guides and pairs of conveying rolls. Other suitable guides are provided for deflecting the plates upwardly, and other rolls convey the finished plates out of the tinning pot.

Ordinarily the plates to be tinned are fed to the tinning machine one at a time by hand. This method has been found to be inefficient in that varying intervals occur between successive plates, and feeding pauses occur when the operators attention is taken from the feeding process while performing other necessary duties.

To increase ythe speed of operation of tinning machines, apparatus has been devised for automatically feeding the plates to be tinned from a pile to the entry rolls of the tinning machine. However, automatic devices for this purpose have generally been unsatisfactory in that the expense of installing and maintaining them has been greater than is justified by the savings effected by their use. Further, it has been found that the quality of the tin coated plates produced by automatic machinery suffers .for the reason that the individual plates are not inspected as they are fed to the tinning machine, moreover the operator is not present at all times to supervise the operation of the tinning machine and the condition of theI molten metal in the tinning pot.

It is, therefore, an obiect of my invention to provide a feeding mechanism for a tin plating machine that is comparatively inexpensive toconst-ruct and install, and that is rugged and economical in operation.

Another cbiect of my invention is to provide a feeding mechanism that will insure that only one-plate will be fed to the tinning machine at a time and that will closely space successive plates to obtain a generally higher efliciency and the maximum produc- 1931. Serial No. 533,697.

tion of which the tinning machine is capable.

A further object of my invention is to provide a tin plating machine of such desiP'n that it is economically feasible to employ an operator for supervising one or two machines, and which will function in such manner that the operator will be free to inspect the individual plates and to supervise the operation of the tinning pot.

These objects are achieved, in accordance with the present invention, by providing a feeding table for the tinning machine upon which the operator may lay several plates of metal in overlapped relation, the table being provided with means for advancing and aligning the overlapped sheets. From the table the sheets are taken by suitable rolls which deliver them to the tinning machine, a suitable device being provided for preventing more than one sheet from entering the rolls at a time, and to space the sheets closely together as they enter the tinning machine. l

This apparatus may be constructed as illustrated by the particular embodiments of my invention which are described in detail in this specification and shown in the accompanying drawings,lin which Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a plate feeding mechanism and the entering portion of a tinning machine; Fig. 2 is a view in longitudinal section of the feeding mechanism and tinning machine taken on the plane represented by the line II-II of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged view in elevation of the midportion ,of a pair of feeding rolls showing a device for preventing more than one plate from entering the rolls at a time; Fig. 4 is a view of the feeding rolls taken on the plane represented by the line IV-IV, Fig.

3, showing the manner in which plates are v Y to be tinned downwardly into thebath, the

portion of the conveyor here shown comprising a pair of entry rolls 5 for receiving plates to be tinned and for delivering them to and through a flux box G. From the flux box the plates are passed through a pair of rolls 7 submerged in the bath of molten tin. In operating such machine by hand, a workman stands in a suitable position in front'of the machine and feeds the plates one at a time by hand into the entry rolls 5, or directly into a pot where feed or entry rolls are omitted.

To overcome the objections to hand feeding, which have been discussed hereinbefore, I provide a feeding mechanism disposed adjacent to the tinning machine A, and adapted to deliver plates to the entry conveyor one at a time and with but little space between them. The feeding mechanism comprises a feeding table B upon which the operator lays a plurality of plates in overlapped relation, starting at the end of the table adjacent to the tinning machine A, in the manner that shingles are laid on a roof. During the loading process each plate may be inspected for defects and after the table B has been covered the operator may devote his attention to the condition of the molten tin and to the tinning mechanism. The tinning machine and feeding mechanism are operated continuously and from time to time additional plates are added to the string on the table as the tinning operation progresses.

As shown in the drawings, table B is provided with means for advancing the plates toward the tinning machine A, which means comprise a plurality of rollers 11 disposed with their upper surfaces in a horizontal plane for receiving the overlapped plates and with their axes of rotation extending transversely of the table. To properly align the plates on the table, and to feed them centrally into the entry conveyor 4, a suitable guide 12 is adjustably mounted near one end of the rollers 11 for engaging the edges of the plates. To insure that the plates are brought into contact with this guide, all of the rollers 11, excepting the ones at each end of the table, are skewed or disposed at a small angle, ordinarily of about 5, to a vertical transverse plane the box 14 also constitutes a trough for water to submcrge the lower faces of the rollers 11 in such manner that water is carried by them to the lower surfaces of the plates for protecting them from becoming dry and from having their surfaces damaged by oxidation. The depth of the water in the trough 14 is regulated by means of an adjustable overflow pipe 18. To protect the upper surfaces of the plates, table B is provided at its forward end with a waterreceiving box or tank 19 having a perforated bottom through which water may flow for wetting the tops of the plates. The water utilized is preferably taken from the cooling systems of water-cooled pieces of apparatus, which water would otherwise be wasted, and it is introduced to the machine through the sprinkler box 19. A suitable drain opening 20 is provided for draining the trough 14 when occasion arises to do so.

The last roller 2l of table B, which roller is disposed in a transverse plane of the machine, delivers the plates to a feed or star roll mechanism C, which in turn feeds them to a delivery roll set D that delivers them to thel entry conveyor' 4 of the tinning machine A.

The bite of the feeding roll set C is disposed somewhat below the level of the feed table B, and inasmuch as the last roller 21 of the feed table is parallel with the feeding roll set C the plates will sag in a uniform manner throughout their width as they pass from table B to the feeding roll set C. This set comprises upper and lower rolls 22 and 23, respectively, suitably journalled at their ends in a frame 24 secured to the end of the table frame 14. To provide for effectively gripping the plates as they enter the bite of the roll set C, the upper roll 22 is resiliently pressed towards the lower roll 2S by means of a suitable spring 25 in a well known manner.

To provide for feeding not more than one plate at a time to the tinning machine, the feeding roll set C is provided with a device for engaging the rearmost of two overlapping plates to prevent it from entering the bite of the rolls until after the front plate has moved out of overlapping relation with it. This mechanism comprises a star wheel 26 journalled on the upper roll 22 at its midportion and having frictional engagement therewith to cause it to turn with the roll 1',ses,oos

if not restrained b external means. As shown in detail in igs. 3, 4 and 5, the star wheel 26 com rises a hub 27 journalled on a reduced cylmdrical portion 28 of roll 22. Four teeth or tines 31,A that extend beyond the periphery of the roll 22, are removably f secured in notches or keyways equally spaced about the periphery of the hub 27 by means of suitable keys 32. As shown, the hub 2 7 is made in two parts, in such manner that it may be readily assembled on the cylindrical journal 28 and the parts secured together by cap screws 33, or other suitable means. At the midortion of the bore of the hub 27 an annu ar groove 34 is rovided for receiving lubricant, such as thick grease, to permit the journal 28 to turn within the hub 27 and at the same time lafford a frictional coupling therebetween for exerting a small torque to turn the Wheel 26 W1th the roll 22.

As the foremost plate of the string on the table B enters the bite of theroll set C, one of the tines 31 on the star wheel 26 will engagethe top of the plate, as shown 1n Flg. 4, and the wheel 26 will be brought to rest, with the tine ahead of that in Contact wlth the plate turned suiciently far to permit the plate to pass between the rolls 22 and 23 without interference. With one of the tines 3'1 bearing on the top of the-foremost plate the next plate of the string will be prevented from entering the bite of the rollsl by rcason of the fact that its front edge will engage the side of the tine 31 which will stop it from further forward movement. As the rolls 22 and 23 continueto turn, the foremost plate will be withdrawn from beneath the next plate and moved out of overlapping relation with it. As soon as the rear edge of the first plate moves past the tine 31, the star wheel 26 will again be free'to rotate with the roll 22, and the tine 31 will move downwardly in front of the Lend of the second plate in such manner that itsis interposed between the two plates for properly spacing them. The second plate will then be free to advance and will be urged forward by the roller 21 in contact with its lower surface. As the plates advance, the tine between them passes through a clearance space 35 in the roll 23, as shown in Fig. 5, which space consists of an annular groove in the roll of width somewhat greater than the width of the star wheel 26 and of suiiicient depth to permit the tines 31 to pass through it without interference. The next succeeding tine 31 will then move into engagement with the top of the second plate for blocking subsequent overlapping plates. In this manner the feeding roll set4 C feeds plates singly, but closely and uniformly spaced, to the delivery roll set D, thus assuring that the tinning machine A Will operate without jamming and at the maximum ca acity of which it is capable. To operate t e machine continuously the v workman replenishes the supply of plates on the table- B as often as necessary before the last plate enters the feeding roll set.

The delivery roll pair D comprises an upper roll and a lower roll 42 and 43, respectively, journalled in a frame 44 and pressed together by a spring 45. This frame is adjustably mounted on the main frame 24 in such manner that the roll set D may be tilted or adjusted vertically for adapting it to feed plates accurately into the entry rolls 5 of the tinning machine A. A suitable guide rack 46 is provided between the feeding roll set C andthe delivery roll set D for guiding the plates into the bite of the rolls 4.2 and 43. A similar guide rack 47 is provided at the exit end of the delivery roll set D to' guide the plates into the bite of the entry rolls 5 of the tinning y grooves 48 are provided in the delivery rolls l 42 and 43 and in the entry rolls 5 for permitting water to pass through them. Such water as may drip from the plates while passing through the feeding roll set C or the delivery roll set D is caught inthe bottom of frame 24 and conducted by a pipe or hose connection 51 to a larger pipe 52 leading from the overiow pipe 18 in the frame 14 to a suitable catch basin 53 beneath the feeding table B.. As shown, the catch basin 53 also constitutes a bed plate having at each side the rails of a track or rollway 54 for the wheels 16 of the feeding device. The

feeding device is\ normally held in working relation with the tinning machine A-by means of a fastening member, such as a hook 55, carried by the furnace binding 2. In the event that it becomes desirable to withdraw the feeding machine to permit access to the tinning machine, the hook 55 may be released and the entire feeding mechanism moved back along track 54.

To insure thatthe feeding mechanism will operate at the proper speed to deliver the plates to the tinning machine A at the correct rate, the drive connection for the feeding machine. is made directly to one of the entry rollsi. As shown in F ig. 1, the lower entry roll, which is provided with a shaft 57 carrying arsprocket wheel 58, is driven by a chain 59 extending from a suitable source of power, not shown, and is connected with the ,remainder of the tinning machine A in a be accomplished by removing the well known manner. The shaft 57 is also provided with a sprocket whee1\61 from which a chain 62 leads to a similar sprocket wheel 63 at the end of the roll 43 ofthe delivery set D. The roll 43 is in turn geared to the upper roll `42 by suitable intermeshing gear wheels 64 in such manner that the delivery rolls D deliver plates to the entry Vrolls 5 at the same speed at which the entry rolls pass the plates to the-submerged rolls 7. From the roll 43 power is transmitted by means of a sprocket wheel 65 and chain 66 to a. sprocket wheel 67 at the end of an extension on the last roller 21 of the feedmg table B. At the other end of the roller` 21 a sprocket wheel 68 is provided for drlving, by means of a chain 69, a sprocket wheel 70 at the end of the roll 23 of the feed roll set C. At the other end of the feed roll 23, an intermeshing pair of gear wheels 71 are provided for driving the upper roll 22. This drive connection is also proportioned to operate the feeding rolls set C in synchronism with the delivery set D and the tinning machine A and to operate the roller 2l at substantially the speed of the feed rolls 22 and 23.

The skewed rollers 11 of the feeding table B are connected to be driven by means of a longitudinal shaft 73 connected by a bevelled gear set 74 to the shaft'of the roller 21 and provided with a plurality of small bevelled gear wheels 7 5,'each of which engages a complementary gear wheel 76 on the end of oneof the rollers 11. The bevelled gear set 74 is so proportioned that the rollers 11 operate at only suflicient speed to advance the overlapped plates as rapidly as they are withdrawn by the feeding rolls C. If, dur-v ing the operation of the machine, it is found that the ratio of the speed of the rollers 11 to the. speed of the feedingrollset C should be changed for some reason, this can readlly gear set 74 that connects the shaft 73 to the roller 21 and substituting another gear s'et of predetermined size or by making other suitable adjustments in the driving mechanism. lVhen operating tinning machines equipped with my-.improved feeding device, one operator can readily attend two feeding machines, keeping them in continuous operation by Aloading them alternately and supervising the remainder of the apparatus btween loading operations. Such being' the case, some operators desire to utilize tinning machines ofthe double strand typethat are capable of passing two rows of plates through the tinning bath at one time. Moreover, as most tinning machines are of the double row type, this desire will in all likelihood have to be satisfied until faster machines of the singlerow type are introduced. For feeding double strand tinning machines,

my feeding machine may be constructed to convey two strings of plates to the timiing madhme, as indicated by the portion of a modified feed table shown in Fig. 6.

As shown, a-table Bb is provided that is substantially twice as wide as the table B shown in Fig. 1. The table Bb is provided with long skewed rollers 11b journalled in the sides of a frame or trough 146. A. guide member 12b is provided at one side of the table for engaging the edges of one string of plates, and a similar adjustable guide or partition 82?; is provided down the center of the table Bb for engaging the edges of -the other string of plates. As shown, the

center portions of the rollers 11b a're reduced in diameter to permit the partition 82?) lto be adjusted transversely of the table. It will be readily understood that the feeding nolls for thedouble strand type of machine will be provided with two star wheels, one in the center of each strand, and that the delivery rolls and entry conveyor of the tinning machine will be substantially twice as wide as those utilized in the single strand machine. The remaining portions of the mechanism, such as the driving connections, are substantially the same as those described in discussing the single strand-machine.

In the event that the space near a tinning machine to which a feed mechanism is to be applied is quite limited, a modified type of feeding device such as shown in Fig. 7 may be utilized to advantage. In this modification a relatively short feed table B0 is utilized, comprising a frame or trough 140, in which are journalled skewed rollers 11e,

land havingat one side an adjustable guide 120.l At the front end of the table Bc is mounted one set of rollers Cc that functions as a feeding roll set and is tilted at an angle to permit it to'act also ,as a delivery roll Aset for feeding plates directly to the entry rolls 5 o-f the tinning machine A.

To permit the feeding roll set Cc to func- "tion properly in the inclined position, the

plates to be fed to the machine are applied to the table Bc in a manner opposite to that in which they are applied to the table B of Fig. 1. That is, the plates are applied starting at the end ofthe table farthest from the tinning machine A, and are laid in overlapped relation with the exposed edges extendingto the rear until the table is filled. By reason of the inclined position of` the lrolls Cc, when the end of the foremost plate is engaged by the feeding rolls, the entire plate is lifted from the table Bc to the position shown in the drawing and passes from this position in a downwardly inclined direction to the entry rolls 5 of the tinning machine. A star wheel 260 is provided for preventing more than one plate from entering the rolls at a time. nasmuch as the next plate is below the plate engaged by the feeding rolls Cc, it is necessary that the star wheel 26a be mounted at the mid-portion of the lower feeding roll 230. As may be clearly seen in the drawing, the star wheel 260 functions in a manner similar to the star wheel shown in detail in Figs. 4 and 5 to hold back the rearmost of the two overlapping plates until the front plate has passed through the feeding rolls.

To operate this machine continuously, the operator reloads the table after most of the plates originally on it have been fed to the tinning machine. As before, the operator commences at the end of the table farthest from the tinning machine and lays the plates on it in overlapped relation. As the last plate of the original string is lifted and drawn into the feed rolls the operator lays plates of the new string beneath it, taking care that the foremost plate abuts against the tine of the star wheel 260 that engages the bottom of'the raised plate.

By combining the functions of the feeding rolls and the delivery rolls in one set of rolls Cc, and by making the table Bc somewhat shorter, this modified feeding machine is made very compact, and therefore is suitable for use in plants in which there is little room available between the masonry wall 2 of the tinning potland other pieces of equipment. This shortened form of feed table, like the longer one previously described, may be of either the single or double row t e.

y1lirom the foregoing descriptions and explanations of the operation of devices embodying my invention, itis apparent that I have provided a feeding mechanism for tin plating machines that is rugged and simple in construction, and that functions to accurately and rapidly feed metal plates to a tinning machine in such manner that they may be properly inspected and selected without interruption of the tinning operation.

Although. I have described specifically particular embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that the particular expressions used are descriptive only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a tinning machine, a tinning pot, an elongate table for receiving in an extended overlapped relation a plurality of plates of metal to be tinned, means for feeding the plates longitudinally of the table and from the table to the tinning machine, and means for applying water to the plates while on said table.

2. In a tinning machine, the combination with a tinning pot having an entry conveyor, of a feeding device disposed to feed plates of metal to be tinned to the entry conveyor, and means on the feeding device for applying water to both sides of the plates being fed whileon said feeding device.

8. In a tinning machine, the combination with a tinning pot having an entry conveyor, of a feed table for receiving in overlapped relation plates of metal to be tinned, means on the table for advancing the plates 'and for aligning them, delivery means disposed to receive the plates and to deliver them to the entry conveyor, and means disposed to feed the plates one at a time from the table to the delivery means.

Li. In a tinning machine, the combination with a tinning pot having an entry conveyor, of a feed table for receiving in overlapped relation plates of metal to be tinned,

means on the table for advancing the platesplating machine, in combination, a rollerv feeding table for receiving sheets in overlapped relation, a guide late at one side of the table, means for a justing the guide plate to adapt the table to sheets of various widths, rollers disposed in skewed relation on the table for advancing the overlapped sheets and for urging them into contact with the guide plate, a pair of feed rolls for receiving the plates from the feed table, means carried by the feed rolls for preventing the rearmost of two overlapped sheets from entering the rolls until after the front sheet has passed out of overlapped relation with the rear sheet, and delivery means for receiving the sheets from the feed rolls and for delivering them to the plating machine.

6. The combination withy a tinning ma'- chine for tinning metal plates, of a feed table for receiving plates in overlapped relation, a guide piece disposed at one side of the table, means on the tablevfor advancing the plates and for biasing them to engage their edges with the guide piece, a pair of feed rollsv at the end of the table, means 'car` ried by a feed roll for engaging the rearmost of two overlapping plates to hold it until the foremost plate has moved out of overlapping relation with it, and delivery means disposed to receive the plates from the feed rolls and to deliver them to the tinning machine. Y

7. The combination with a tinning machine for tinning metal plates, of a feedtable for receiving plates in overlapped relation, a guide piece disposed at one side of the table', means on the table for advancing the plates and for biasing them to engage their edges with the guide piece, a pair of feed rolls at the end of the table,

means carried by a feed roll for engaging the rearmost of two overlapping plates to hold it until the foremost plate has moved out of overlapping relation with it, delivery means disposed to receive the lates from the feed rolls and to deliver t em to the tinning machine, and means on the table for applying water to both sides of the plates.

8. In a device for feeding sheets of metal to a tinning machine, in combination, a feeding table for receiving in overlapped relation sheets to be tinned, rollers journalled on the table for advancing the overlapped sheets, a pair of rolls disposed to receive sheets from the table and to feed them to the tinning machine, a star wheel mounted on one of the rolls having tines extending beyond the periphery of the roll and having frictional engagement therewith whereby one of the tines will be brought to bear on the top of the sheet in the bite of the rolls to prevent successive overlapping plates from entering the rolls.

9. In a device for feeding sheets of metal to a tinning machine, in combination, a feeding table for receiving in overlapped relation two strings of sheets to be tinned, a guide plate at one side of the table, a second guide plate substantially in the middle of the table, means for adjusting the guide plates, rollers journalled on the table for advancing the strings of overlapped sheets, said rollers being disposed in skewed relation to the table for urging the edge of each string of sheets into contact with one of the guide plates, a pair of feed rolls disposed to receive plates from each string on the table in parallel relation, and means disposed in operative relation to each string of sheets for preventing the rearmost of two overlapped sheets from entering the rolls until after the front sheet has passed out of overlapped relation with the rear sheet.

10. In a tinning machine, in combination, a tinning pot, a feed table for receiving in overlapped relation plates of metal to be tinned, means on the table for advancing and for aligning the plates, a pair of feed rolls disposed in a plane inclined to the vertical for receiving the plates from the table and delivering them to the tinning pot and means for preventing the lowermost of two overlapping plates from entering the feeding rolls until the uppermost plate has passed through the rolls.

. 1l. The method of feeding plates to a tinning machine that comprises separating the plates, inspecting the individual plates, disposing them in extended overlapped relation on a feeding mechanism, and applying water to both surfaces of the plates to protect their surfaces from becoming oxidized.

In testimony whereof, I si n m name.

S. E. IE CHER. 

